The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
EMELINE'S SCHOOL.

attended was a little brick-red school
house in the Territory of Dakota. Per
haps there is more than one such educa-
tional edifce in the Territory of Dakota,
but can't be more definite because that
is about all know concerning it myself.
Her name was Emeline Fancher, usual
" called En- Fancher, or sometimes
Emma Fancher, or perhaps more fire.
quently sold Fancher's gal'' and it was
agreed by all that she never would know
anything-not about her books-and the
teacher was quite positive that that was
all there was to learn in this world.
Of course she learned other things
readily enough and she could learn her
lessons as well if she wanted to, but she
didn't want to-only on very rare occa-
sions. 1t was said that she was famous
to help her mother at home, and that she
was somewhat better than her brothers in
helping her father outdoors and that
when it came to going after the cows on
horseback or setting trap which would
invariably catch a muskrat, or other
things of this nature, that she was en-
thusiastic and successful, but it didn't
raise her much in the eyes of the COM
munity.
She was always shockingly familiar
with the teacher, prim maiden lady
who had been district school teacher
all her life and considered perfecting the
multiplication table the highest achieve
ment of man.
During the noon hour this wayward
scholar would sometimes take her seat on
top of desk near the teachers corner
and sit and swing her feet and ply her
prim instructor with questions concern
ing the manners and customs and scenery
and natural products of different parts
of the country, and volunteer bewil-
dering amount of information concerning
the habits of the muskrat and the jack
rabbit and the prospect for good crop,
and her latest adventure while bringing
home the COWS on her favorite pony. She
would thus continue to shock Miss
Bacon, the prim instructor, till at last that
lady would be obliged to send her away
in self-defense.
So Emeline went along for couple of
years in the little brick-red schoolhouse.
Then she graduated. The exercises were
not elaborate-in fact they could not
have well been more simple. She piled
up her books and taking them under her
ann went home.
To the astonished Miss Bacon, who
demanded an explanation of her sudden
departure, she said:
'I've learned enough and I am going
to quit"
"What are you going to do at home ?"
"Help ma and pa, I reckon"
"But don't you know you are only
fifteen years of age and need to go to
school more 2"
"Oh, s'pose so-that's what you're
always telling me. But guess III never
learn anything at school anyhow, so I'm
going to quit. Pa and ma don't care
and you'll never see me at school any,
more, so good-by." She went out the
door, but turned and gave Miss Bacon
parting shock by adding: "Come down
to our house Saturday and we'll go a.
fishing in Dry Lake, know where there
are some splendid young frogs for bait"
But the worthy Miss Bacon could not
reply-the idea of her adjusting frog
on hook! So she did not 60 Saturday
and did not see her late pupil. In fact
two years passed and she only saw her
occasionally and then when going to or
from school she encountered her dashing
wildly along on her pony.
One day when perhaps little more
than the time mentioned had elapsed,
Emma entered the school-house after
school had closed and as Miss Bacon was
preparing to take her departure. She
was, in her own words, "full-hedged
young lady now,' 'and was certainly quite
prepossessing in appearance, Miss Bacon
thought, compared withrwhen she ''gradu-
ated." She was not large, though per-
haps little taller than the average
young lady, and was as strong and ac-
tive as ever. She was dressed with more
taste than formerly and evidently did
not indulge in her wild and wayward
habits to so great degree, though she
had the old CLEAN in her eye which
seemed to tell that she could still ride
the pony as far and fast, or set a trap by
the lake with the same certainty of
catch
Miss Bacon" she said, "I'm going to
surprise you"
"Well," repliod that lady, Ego on
you have surprised me before"
''Yes, know" she said, laughing,
t'but another way this time. You re-
member how graduated"
Eyes, I believe that is what you
termed it."
"Well, there isn't any use of gradu-
ating unless it does you some good, is
there2"
Certainly not"
''That's what l thought, so I'm going
to teach school,"
You a teacher exclaimed Miss
Bacon. "Why, Emeline, how can you
think of such a thing2"
Don't you think can do it?"
s'Why, it doesn't really seem as if you
would be successful as teacher. Where
are you going to teach?'
''Oh, over in the other county. Ma
reckoned couldn't get certificate even
if l had studied some sinceI left here, but
the superintendent wasa nice young man.
and I smiled 1T him and acted real sweet,
and he gave me one with pretty good
standing. l tell you it made mil open her
eyes"
You will teach the coming winter.
them
Yes, got my school engaged. Going
70 have thirty scholars, some big boys,
too, and I'm going to make them stand
around. If any of my scholars ever run
away and act like used to I'll make
49, -.:.l 41op hadn't